Pulmonary Abnormalities in Dogs with Leptospirosis

Background: Leptospirosis in dogs is a multiorgan disease affecting mostly kidneys and liver. Objectives: The objective was to characterize prevalence, clinical, and radiological features and outcome of dogs with leptospirosis and pulmonary abnormalities. Animals: Fifty dogs with leptospirosis. Methods: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis at the Small Animal Clinic, Berlin, were reviewed. Diagnosis was based on microscopic agglutination test, blood or urine polymerase chain reaction, and histopathology. Based on clinical and/or radiological signs, patients were grouped into dogs with lung abnormalities (group 1) or without (group 2). Severity of respiratory distress was scored as mild to moderate (grade 1) or severe (grade 2). Thoracic radiographs were scored based on pulmonary changes and location as grade 1 (caudal interstitial pattern), 2 (generalized mild to moderate reticulonodular interstitial pattern), or 3 (generalized severe reticulonodular interstitial pattern with patchy alveolar consolidations). Results of CBC and biochemistry were compared between groups. Results: Thirty‐five dogs had radiological pulmonary changes (grade 1: 5; grade 2: 14; grade 3: 16); 31 of them had pulmonary distress (grade 1: 13, grade 2: 18). Sixty‐seven percent of the dogs with dyspnea grade 2 were mainly euthanized because of respiratory distress. Fifteen percent of the dogs with dyspnea grade 1 and 21% without clinical respiratory signs were euthanized because of acute renal failure or sepsis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In 70% of dogs with leptospirosis pulmonary changes were detected. Lung involvement represented a severe complication causing increased case fatality depending on the severity of respiratory distress.     

A Minireview of the Pathogenesis of Acute Leptospirosis

Hemorrhagic diathesis is one of the most striking manifestations in acute leptospirosis. Hemorrhages are seen in infections due to Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae as well as in those caused by Leptospira pomona. Thrombocytopenia is a constant feature and its finding can be useful for the diagnosis. Attempts to demonstrate the presence of a toxin in leptospires were unsuccessful. A few years ago, a syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation was associated with the physiopathogenesis of experimental leptospirosis with L. icterohaemorrhagiae. More recently, this syndrome was identified in cases of human leptospirosis and in hamsters infected with L. pomona. It appears now that other spirochetal infections (borreliosis) have a similar pathogenesis. Nonetheless, many points are still unclear: the primary cause of disseminated intravascular coagulation is unknown, as well as the virulence factors of spirochetes. Some points favor the presence of a toxic factor in leptospires: vascular damage that occurs in the absence of leptospires in damaged areas and the fact that antibiotic therapy is ineffective unless treatment is initiated early in the disease.     

Leptospirosis in a dog with uveitis and presumed cholecystitis

A 7 yr old castrated male Australian shepherd dog was examined for acute change in iris color, lethargy, and anorexia. Uveitis, acute renal failure, and presumed cholecystitis were diagnosed. Based on clinical findings, leptosporosis was suspected, and the dog was treated with antibiotics and supportive care. The dog made a complete recovery, and leptospirosis was confirmed on convalescent titers. Due to the zoonotic potential, leptospirosis should be considered in cases of uveitis, as well as possible cholecystitis.     

犬钩端螺旋体病的诊断与防治

钩端螺旋体病(leptospirosis)是一种犬和多种动物均可感染自然疫源性疾病。犬在感染后引起急性肾炎并常伴有肝衰竭或凝血不良[1～2]。在感染人后引起螺旋体性黄疸,称为Weil氏病。犬较易感染本病,猫的钩端螺旋体病少见。我国从犬分离到的钩端螺旋体主要是犬群和流感黄疸出血群。1病原犬钩端螺旋体病的病原主要为犬钩端螺旋体和出血黄疸钩端螺旋体。钩端螺旋体菌体纤细,螺旋紧密缠绕,一端或两端有特征性的小钩。在旋转时两端柔软而中间僵硬。钩端螺旋体为严格需氧菌,对pH6.2～8.0以外的酸碱敏感。加热到50℃10分钟、60℃10秒以及常用的消毒剂…     

Meta‐Analyses of Factors Associated with Leptospirosis in Domestic Dogs

Factors related with leptospirosis in domestic dogs have been reported worldwide. The aims of this study were to identify factors associated with this disease described in different observational studies and to combine the coinciding factors in at least four studies using meta‐analyses, to obtain a pooled odds ratio (OR) as measure of infection risk. A literature search was performed in electronic databases, electronic databases of specific journals and search engines to find studies published in English, Spanish and Portuguese available from January 1960 to January 2015. Two hundred and eighteen factors were identified in 31 publications including cross‐sectional and case–control studies. Finally, independent meta‐analyses were performed with six different variables, which included between 4 and 8 articles. The pooled OR indicated that the variables ‘mixed‐breed dogs’, ‘flooding occurrence in the habitat of the dog’ and ‘working dogs’ were risk factors for leptospirosis, while ‘being a dog less than 1 year old’ was a protective factor; however, all these associations were not statistically significant. Otherwise, the variables ‘male dog’ and ‘urban dog’ were statistically significant risk factors for infection. This study highlights the need for more formal studies on the epidemiology of canine leptospirosis. Nevertheless, the study revealed that some risk factors for infection coincided in different observational studies. These factors could be considered to raise suspicion about the disease, especially when there is a history of exposure to the bacteria.     

Leptospirosis in dogs: a review with emphasis on clinical aspects

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease affecting several mammalian species, including human beings. In dogs, it is spread mainly by rodents that act as a maintenance host for several Leptospira serovars. Until recently, the most common signs observed in affected dogs consisted of icterus and haemorrhagic diathesis, but today the most prevalent clinical signs are attributed to acute renal failure. The current literature gives a good review of leptospirosis in dogs in the USA and Canada, but less information is available about its occurrence in Europe. This review considers the clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this emerging zoonotic disease.     

安徽荷斯坦牛体型性状与泌乳量的相关及回归关系

本文进行了对安徽荷斯坦牛体型性状与泌乳量的相关及回归分析。结果表明,安徽荷斯坦牛体高、乳房深度、前房附着与泌乳量均呈弱负相关,幅度为-0.0188～-0.1961;后房高度、乳头外径与泌乳量分别呈弱正相关(0.1797,P<0.05)和强正相关(0.6940,P<0.01)。进一步对泌乳量(y)与体型性状(xi)间进行多元线性回归分析及xi对y的通径分析,建立了泌乳量与体斜长(x2)、胸围(x3)、尻宽(x7)、后房高度(x10)和前房附着(x11)间的最优回归方程:y=7601.7470 33.3901x2-18.3858x3-97.7271x7 71.9464x10-18.5792x11,R2为0.951。